Doll eye mounting



Dec. 12, 1933. E. G. SCHAEFFER DOLL EYE MOUNTING Filed June 7, 1932 gtvjgToR 79%,: 772mm ATTORN EYS,

Patented Dec. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES DOLL EYE MOUNTING Edward G. Schaefier, Brooklyn,

American Character Doll 00.,

N. Y., assignor to Inc., New York,

.N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 7, 1932. Serial No. 615,928

1 Claim.

This invention relates to an improvement in dolls and has especial reference to the manner in which the eyes of the head of the doll are mounted for movement to the open and shut positions.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of improved means for mounting the eyes in a doll head of resilient material so that the desired movement of the eyes to the openand shut positions will be assured.

Another object is to provide a doll head made of resilient material with means which prevents distortion or flexure from a normal condition of the face portion surrounding the eye openings and which also serve as sockets for the eyes.

Another object of the invention is the combination with a doll head of resilient material, such as rubber, of means for preventing undue distortion or collapsing of the face portion of the head, so that the eyes will be kept in proper alinement 2 and have the desired movement when the doll is tilted.

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features'and advantages will appear when the following specification is read in-connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section of a doll head showing the invention;

Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the doll head showing certain features of the invention;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front view, partly in section, of one of the mountings and its eye;

Figure 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section, the same being taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a perspective of the brace member.

The present invention is primarily intended for application to doll heads made of resilient material such as high grade rubber. In the drawing, the doll head 10 made of rubber has the usual eye openings 11 therein. In accordance with the invention, means is provided for retain- 5 ing the shape of each eye opening 11 by preventing distortion or fiexure of the portion of the face of the head surrounding the opening. The said means is constructed of non-resilient material and not only prevents the distortion or fiexure as mentioned above but also serves as a socket for one of the eyes. The said means is designated 12 and is constructed of metal or other non-resilient material. The said means 12 consists of a single member which is substantially semi-spherical, and is provided with a flange 13 arranged continuously about its forward edge. In the present instance, the eye opening 11 is of substantially oval shape. The material of the head surrounding each opening 11 has a mortise 14 formed therein, corresponding to the flange 13,

to receive the latter therein, as shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 3. In this manner the member 12 wil be retained in place in relation to the opening 11 to provide means for mounting one of the eyes 15. The member 12 projects interiorly of the head. The eye 15 is mounted in the member 12 for rotatory or pivotal movement, and this is accomplished by the provision of an expansion coil spring 16 whose ends are in axial alinement to provide pintles or pivots 17 received respectively in registering holes in the member 12 and eye 15. The eye 15 is of hollow construction in order to make possible the use of the form of the attaching means shown. It is to be understood that any other means for securing the eye in pivotal connection with the member 12 may be employed. In the present instance, each eye has a pendulum or weight 18 for the usual and obvious purpose for restoring the eye to its normal open position as the doll is tilted from a horizontal to a vertical position. If desired, the eyes may be connected together to move in unison.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, means is provided within the doll head with respect to the eyes to prevent distortion or fiexure of the face portion to aid the members 12 in properly retaining the eyes. The said means consists of a rigid brace member 19 whose opposite ends 20 are received respectively in pockets 21 formed integral with the head 10 on the inside thereof. The member 19 also has jaws 22 integral therewith. These jaws 22 have teeth 23. The head 10 has a projection 24 on the inside thereof integral therewith which is gripped by the jaws 22, the teeth 23 being clinched in the projection so that the jaws will effectively grip and in this manner cooperate with the ends 20 as disposed in the pockets 21 to effectively retain the member 19 in position. In this manner the side and face portions of the head will be braced, thereby keeping the eyes 15 in proper alinement.

I claim:

In a doll construction, a hollow head formed of elastic material and provided with an eye opening therein, the wall of said head surrounding the eye opening being provided with a mortise, a rigid socket member provided with an outwardly-extending flange, said flange being arranged in the said mortise for securing the said rigid member in position and preventing distortion or fiexure of the face portion surrounding the eye opening, and an eye member pivoted to said rigid member.

' EDWARD G. SCHAEFFER. 

